Bush's sheriff remark foxes Hill

Defence Minister Robert Hill today tiptoed around comments by US President George W Bush that Australia played the role of sheriff in the region, saying he was unsure what the remarks meant.

In an interview in The Australian newspaper, Mr Bush said Australia and the US were equal partners, friends and allies.

Asked whether he saw Australia as the US's deputy sheriff in South-East Asia, Mr Bush said: "No. We don't see it as a deputy sheriff. We see it as a sheriff. There's a difference."

Speaking to reporters about a $3.5 billion submarines contract, Senator Hill was reluctant to be drawn on the president's comments.

"It's not my language," he said.

"I'm not interested in the sheriff comments.

"I'm not sure what it means."

Senator Hill said he thought the US-Australian alliance was in very good shape.

"The US takes on a huge load in terms of ensuring global stability and global security, we're very pleased to be a part of that because that's what's necessary to protect the interests of Australians and other Australian interests," he said.

"Our alliance is with the world's one superpower, we are only a small part of that but we believe we can make a constructive and useful contribution."

Pressed on what the president's comments might mean, Senator Hill said: "I interpreted that to mean ... that he believed we took on a serious role, made a significant contribution to stability, particularly within this region.

"That's our view that we do that, if that's what he means, therefore, I would agree with it."